New to me 2006 Mazda Miata (Brilliant Black)

I

imported_Sludge1

New member
It was about time to replace my 2000 Mazda Protege so I picked this one up from a stealership. Having had a 74 Fiat X 1/9 when I was young I wanted another sports car before I became totally decrepit. I may have waited just a little too long on that. :rofl

I got a decent price and I really love driving it. On to the detail.



Prep:

Cleaned fabric convertible roof with Rag Topp convertible cleaner.

Sprayed most of body with Surf City's Grime Destroyer.

Washed with Zaino Z7 shampoo using double bucket and microfiber chenille mitt.

Washed wheel wells with Surf City's Grime Destroyer.

Washed wheels with Surf City's Beyond Steel Wheel Cleaner (I like Eagle One better)

Removed tons of contamination from hood and trunk with Clay Magic Blue Clay.



Looks good from a distance after all of that:

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However when you bring out the lights:

Scuff on front clip

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Another scuff on front clip

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Fingernail scratches above driver's door handle

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Scratch on driver's door

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Trunk lid

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Swirls and oxidized paint

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I taped and protected the convertible top

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I tried using Menzerna SIP with a LC orange pad with little success. I then tried Meguiars 95 Speed Cut Compound with a LC orange pad with pretty good results.

50/50 shot.

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As I was finishing up the test spot it started to rain and rained for the next four hours. With no garage I stripped of the sheet and tape and waited for the rain to stop.



Polished paint using the Flex 3401.

Meguiars 95 on LC orange pad.

Menzerna SIP on old green German foam pad.

Blackfire Scratch Resistant Clear Finishing Polish on LC white pad.



The result were not perfect, but much improved. I used 50/50 IPA as a wipe down and some of the residue clouds a couple pictures. Here are some close ups:

Hood:

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More paint

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Trunk lid

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Rear fender with wipe down residue

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Photo after polishing and no LSP (wiped down with 50/50 IPA)

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LSP: Clearkote's Red Moose Machine Glaze with LC gray pad followed by Clearkote's Carnuba Moose Wax.

Windows: Surf City's Clearly Better Window Cleaner.



Final photos:

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This exterior only detail took the better part of two days for me. I would starve if I was a Pro detailer. My respect for the Pros has jumped up another notch. Hope you enjoy.
 
That car was beat up, and you did one heck of a job turning it around for an "amateur" as you claim. I like the look of those newer Miatas...
 
awesome detail! That car looks like it just rolled off the dealership floor. How much did you pick it up for? how many miles on the odo?
 
Nice job Sludge...hard to beat the Miatas in terms of the whole package...handling, features, fun to drive, and price. I have driven the previous generations, but not the current one.
 
Well done, Sludge! Looks outstanding! I know exactly what you mean when you state that your respect for professional detailers jumped up considerably after your two days of polishing and waxing. But don't sell yourself short. You done good.



When I was in college in the early 70s, I had a Fiat 124 Spyder. I only had it for a year until my Dad commanded me to sell it. He couldn't afford all the repair bills. But I never forgot that car. So two years ago, at the age of 54, I had the opportunity to get myself a roadster. Like you I decided that I needed to do this before I got too old. ;)



Enjoy your Miata!
 
Did you find the clear relatively hard? I have a 2007 Mazda3, black mica, and it seems like the clear is decently hard.
 
OneQuickGT1 said:
Did you find the clear relatively hard? I have a 2007 Mazda3, black mica, and it seems like the clear is decently hard.
Click to expand...



Yes, I expected to only use the Meguiars 95 on a few spots, not the whole car. The paint is much harder that my 2000 Mazda Protege which would of cleaned up nicely with SIP alone.
 
akimel said:
Well done, Sludge! Looks outstanding! I know exactly what you mean when you state that your respect for professional detailers jumped up considerably after your two days of polishing and waxing. But don't sell yourself short. You done good.



When I was in college in the early 70s, I had a Fiat 124 Spyder. I only had it for a year until my Dad commanded me to sell it. He couldn't afford all the repair bills. But I never forgot that car. So two years ago, at the age of 54, I had the opportunity to get myself a roadster. Like you I decided that I needed to do this before I got too old. ;)



Enjoy your Miata!
Click to expand...



Sounds like we both had the same idea, I'm just a little slower than you. :)

I will enjoy the Miata and thanks.
 
The car looks great! As a 2 time miata owner(had a 91 and have a 250 hp supercharged 1999 now) they are fantastic cars. The two things that MUST be done on the latest version is to swap out the factory springs and add larger sway bars. This will lower the car for better looks and make the car much flatter during cornering and make the car feel more solid.



The latest generation Miata rides very high and has a very soft and sloppy suspension from the factory. You will be shocked at the difference springs and sway bars make to these cars!



Be sure to check out Miataforum.com for a tons of great info and advise on your new toy!



Congrats on the car!
 
Thanks gregk,



I joined miata.net prior to buying the Miata. I may eventually get some RX8 sway bars to replace the stock bars. The ride height doesn't bother me much, but I wouldn't mind a tighter suspension. I will check out miataforum.com.



Thanks,

Sludge
 
That is a great improvement from the before condition and now the car looks real deep and wet, excellent work :2thumbs: .



I saw that you used M95 for the more serious defects removal and I would like to know your comments between M105 and M95 (if you have tried M105 before). Thanks.
 
Gen2,



I have not tried M105, but I did order a bottle yesterday. Some of the defects I thought I had removed seem to be returning despite an IPA wipe down. The M95 using an orange CSS pad gummed up on the paint and was a bear to work with. Strangely enough the pad did not gum up badly. I tried more, less, work more, work less and did not reach a happy medium.

I used the same combo on my son's Honda Element and the M95 worked flawlessly. I appreciate your complement, but I can't hold a candle to the beautiful work you do.



Thanks Sludge
 
That new generation is a blast to drive, and the only Miata that I can fit in!



I can't understand why, as a detailer, you would buy black! :D
 
OTG (Ghost),



I never intended to buy black, but it also wasn't on my no buy list. In the available Miata colors only silver and white were colors I didn't want. I already have a silver car and I have never liked white cars. My Miata was the only car I found in town with the right price, trim level and an automatic shifter. I chose an automatic because of occasional sciatic problems which make using a clutch difficult. :)



You are right about the blast to drive. I have to watch the speedo closely as it is fast compared to the Protege.
 
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